Transit service considered for Foxwoods workers

Norwich Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr. is exploring the possibility of creating a private transportation service that would replace Foxwoods Resort Casino’s off-site employees shuttles, which were terminated last week.

By JAMES MOSHER

The Bulletin

By JAMES MOSHER

Posted Mar. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 6, 2012 at 6:04 AM

By JAMES MOSHER

Posted Mar. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 6, 2012 at 6:04 AM

Norwich, Conn.

Norwich Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr. is exploring the possibility of creating a private transportation service that would replace Foxwoods Resort Casino’s off-site employees shuttles, which were terminated last week.

About 400 Norwich residents have been impacted by Foxwoods’ decision to cancel the shuttles, Braddock said Monday. Some workers are paying at least $5 per trip for car rides to take them the 6 1⁄2 miles from Norwich to the casino. Others are boarding Southeast Area Transit District buses that don’t go directly to Foxwoods from Norwich, forcing employees to ride the buses for several hours per day.

“Some will have to spend $70 per week,” Braddock said. “That’s too much. These people aren’t making much money as it is. It’s a difficult situation.”

Braddock is one of the Norwich representatives on the SEAT board of directors. SEAT offered to run a subsidized line along Route 2 from Norwich to Foxwoods, but casino executives rebuffed the offer, saying they don’t wish to pay for off-site transportation. SEAT General Manager Ella Bowman doesn’t object to Braddock’s plan for a private livery service that will make just two stops — Norwich and Foxwoods, the alderman said Monday.

Bowman couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday.

Braddock said he met with Bowman on Friday. He said he also met with John Wong, a Montville resident who is president of the Chinese and American Cultural Association.

Wong has been trying to find cheaper transportation alternatives for casino workers since Foxwoods announced in January it would terminate the shuttles.

Norwich’s Asian community has been heavily impacted by the end of the program, Wong said.

Foxwoods will consider any proposals offered by Braddock and Wong, Public Relations Manager Dale Wolbrink said.

“We will examine any legitimate proposal that may be a viable option from both a safety and access standpoint,” she wrote in an email Monday.

Peter Pan Bus Lines Inc., a Massachusetts-based company that is one of the Northeast’s largest bus companies, had been providing the shuttle service. It has said it will close its Waterford garage and lay off all or some of the 80 people who work there.

Peter Pan was considering starting a private bus line along Route 2 but never filed a plan with the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

DOT spokesman Judd Everhart said Monday he was researching whether Braddock’s proposal, which would involve a New York-based bus company, would require DOT approval.

Foxwoods terminated the shuttles, citing decreased use of the buses and increased requests from employees to park on casino property.